Mixing Light: Red+Green=Yellow? QED, Superposition & Photons

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SUMMARY

Mixing red light and green light results in the perception of yellow light due to the way human eyes process color, rather than any interaction between photons. Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) confirms that photons do not interact, but the phenomenon of color mixing is explained by the superposition principle and the sensitivity of the three types of color receptors in the human eye. This understanding clarifies that the localized energy of photons does not physically interact to create new colors, but rather combines in a way that our visual system interprets as yellow.

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cragar
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when i mix red light and green light i get yellow light, but QED says that photons do not interact so why am i seeing yellow light, , I know they obey superposition , what does it mean for two photons two superimpose physically . how is the localized energy of the photons interacting .
 
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What you see here is nothing to do with photons interacting.
It is a consequence of the way our eyes are sensitive to light.
The eye has 3 types colour receptor, each sensitive to a different overlapping range of wavelengths of visible light. All the various phenomena relating to the mixing and combining of colours depend on this.
Wiki has a good article on colour vision.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_vision#Physiology_of_color_perception
 
cragar said:
when i mix red light and green light i get yellow light,

See http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/wcolor.html" for all the gory details.

--John
 
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